San Fran/Napa/Monterey
 

My wife and I are looking to make our first trip to the west coast. Planning on being there for five nights in early November. Interested in checking out the napa/sonoma area, redwoods and waterfalls in Big Sur and the final day in San Francisco. I've been doing some research and have come up with a tentative plan. Here goes:
Day one: Arrive in S.F. and pick up convertible. Drive to Napa valley for a picnic and some wine tasting (where?) End the day by treating my wife to spa services (I'm just more interested in seeing what the hype about the mineral pools is all about). Possibly stay at Calistoga Spa Hot Springs mainly because the pools are open late.
Day two: Drive to Sonoma for picnic and wine tours. End day by going to San Francisco for views of Golden Gate Bridge (where would be best view at sunset?) and having dinner. Stay at hotel at airport to begin drive to Monterey on next day.
Day three: Drive to Big Sur. See waterfalls and redwoods at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and Limekiln (can all three be done before sunset). Have dinner and stay at a hotel in Monterey (any suggestions for romantic accomodations at a reasonable price).
Day Four: Perhaps go on a whale watching tour and visit Point Lobos at sunset. Drive back to San Francisco airport hotel in order to return car in the morning.
Day Five: Return rental car and take BART system into San Francisco. Travel the city by public transportation. Take tour of Alcatraz. Walk the Golden Gate Bridge. Look to have a nice dinner in casual clothing. End trip by taking shuttle from hotel to the airport.
How does this sound? Would appreciate any suggestions or adjustments due to time constraints or if it seems too hectic.
P.S. I love to drive; especially scenic routes.

We got a great view of the GG Bridge at sunset from the heights overlooking the bridge and the city in the background. Coming out of San Fran. the first exit is the view park but you will be looking into the sun. Take the next exit, then take a left back under 101 like you were going back over the bridge but there is a road to the right that will take you up the slopes to the great views.

I'm surprised you haven't had more responses to this. Your trip sounds nice to me. Not too rushed but with lots to do.

A photo from Baker Beach at the north side of SF, looking at the GG Bridge, is usually very pretty. There are also lots of good restaurants around that area.

Pt. Lobos would be a lovely place to take sunset photos or just watch the sun go down. A nice dinner afterward in Carmel would be lovely and then drive up to the airport hotel.

BART will take you to the waterfront and you can walk to the pier for the Alcatraz boat or take a bus. Not sure if you will have time to get out to the GG Bridge and walk across it and back. You might have to get a really early start that day and get on one of the earliest Alcatraz boats.

I hope we have good weather for you. Happy travels.

Hi, poohfatty!

(Is that really you, Winnie?) :)

You have a wonderful trip planned and it's all very doable.

Here are a few comments-

NORTH of San Francisco:

jr is correct in pointing out the best views. It's better to get to these views on your way North. First exit after the Golden Gate Bridge is called "Vista Point". Take this exit for a great view of the Bay and GG. (You cannot access the Vista Point going southbound)

Next exit is "Alexander Road". Take that road and follow it as it curves LEFT under the freeway. On the other side, at the stop sign, turn to the LEFT. This is a short road that will take you back onto the GG Bridge, but just before you get to the Bridge, the road will branch. Take the RIGHT branch labelled "Marin Headlands". At the top of the hill, park along the dirt, you will see lots of other people doing the same. Walk to the batteries for a gorgeous view back. I always feel as if I can touch the Golden Gate Bridge from there!

You will find a tremendous amount of information on this forum for the Napa and Sonoma areas. The hot springs are actually MUD baths, very skippable, IMHO.

Romantic dinner on the way back to SF: definitely go to the Spinnaker in Sausalito. Very romantic, great views, good food. You will be looking east and south as the sun sets over the Bay. Save the looking-straight-into-sun sunset for Carmel/Monterey.

Or, have dinner in the spinning restaurant at the top of the Hyatt in the Embarcadero. You will watch the sun set over the city of San Francisco. Check out what time the sun sets that day and make your reservations accordingly.

SOUTH of San Francisco:
November, there's not much water in them "waterfalls". Yes, you can hike all three State Parks in one day - if you have good hiking boots and have done moderate hikes. I'd suggest cutting out Pfeiffer Big Sur, if you feel the need to pare three parks down to two.

You can hike to and from oceanfront McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns in less than an hour, very easy path. You could also go in the opposite direction at JPB and hike to the mini falls (if there is water!) and get a feel for hiking in the redwoods. This inland trip shouldn't take more than an hour or two. At the end of this inland trail, I love sitting on the bench and just looking up into the canopy of gigantic redwoods overhead.

Limekiln is definitely worth hiking to see the falls. I was there last year and plan to be there again in the near future. You need good shoes, preferably hiking boots. Unlike the other State Parks, you may have to cross the streams "a la naturel" by stepping on slippery rocks and fallen tree limbs - there are no manmade bridges. Previous hikers will have left tree limbs as hiking sticks, pick up one of these to help you over the streams and then leave them for the next hikers. :) It's really a wonderful hike. I haven't been in November, so maybe then the streams are dry and the crossings are not bad at all. The falls are among the tallest, if not the tallest, along the entire West Coast (not talking about inland falls, like Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge). Hike to and from the falls is about two hours.

All three state parks are within a few miles of one another, so the drive between any two is not great.

Dining: Nepenthe for lunch. Just a few miles south of Pfeiffer Big Sur and as you reach the coast, you'll see Nepenthe on the right side, perched like an eagle ready to take flight. Try not to miss the turnoff as it's difficult to double back.

Dinner can be at the Highlands Inn. Very romantic and very expensive.

Or you can picnic on Carmel Beach and watch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. To reach Carmel Beach, just drive due west on Ocean Avenue (main drag) in Carmel. If you keep driving, the next stop is Asia. :D

Layer your clothing - Tshirt, turtleneck, sweater/sweatshirt/light rain jacket with hood. Good boots to make your hiking more enjoyable.

Point Lobos: on a good day, PL can be gorgeous and you can hike it all day. I personally prefer the right trail through the memorial grove. Or maybe it's the left trail, all along the shore...:)

Rustic lodging would be Big Sur Lodge in Pfeiffer Big Sur or Deetjsen's. Check out

pelicannetwork.net

for more information on Big Sur.

You have a great trip planned! Have fun, Winnie!

Sounds like you will be exhausted after all this driving around.

Getting to Napa for picnic after arriving in SF airport would mean you would have to arrive aroung 7am to get a car, drive thru city, over bridge, to wine country, get a picnic lunch, find a spot and eat - you will need a nap and then a spa service in Calistoga and depending on where you are flying from, you will have a body clock issue as well.

You are very energetic to try and get this all done in 5 days. You will see a lot but will you remember it! What ever happened to relaxing trips......
Reminds me of the time I went to the Grand Canyon and a husband and wife stopped to see the view and got back in their car 5 minutes later and sped off to the next location. My advice Take your time, cut out a few things and really enjoy the area.....

For a really scenic drive, head west on Hwy 12 from Sonoma to Sebastopol, then north to Guerneville and Armstrong Redwoods, 2 miles north of Guerneville. Bigger trees than at Big Sur or Muir Woods. Then head west along the Russian River to Jenner and south on Hwy One past Point Reyes to San Francisco. Allow five or six hours or more depending on how long you stop.

>>>>The hot springs are actually MUD baths, very skippable, IMHO.<<<<

No, NO-not true. The various pools at Calistoga Spa Hot Springs are naturally heated thermal pools of WATER-very relaxing. Some still, like a swimming pool and some smaller ones like jacuzzi's.
(I am a Sonoma County local and Calistoga junkie!)
A mud bath is a tres different experience (and heavenly experience)
and must pre-booked in private treatment rooms spa.
Please ask if I can answer any questions.
R5